Delphine at the W

Looking for something sophisticated, French and in the heart of Hollywood? I recently had dinner with a few of my girlfriends at Delphine at the W Hotel, located at 6250 Hollywood Blvd. Being in the hotel industry, I find it important to be in-the-know as to what the neighboring hotels have to offer when it comes to restaurants and entertainment as a whole. I hadn't yet explored too much of the W grounds before my dinner out with the girls and I thought that this past weekend was as good as any to sneak a peak...and a taste!

Delphine is the newest brasserie of the Innovated Dining Group which has given us such Los Angeles gems such as BOA, Katana and Sushi Roku.Delphine's ambiance isn't as "clubby" as the others and by that I mean the lighting is bright and the decor looks shabby-chic as they chose to avoid the sexed-up-Hollywood glam like it's counterparts. I appreciated the originality of the interior and I'll admit that the staff seemed friendlier and more down-to-earth as well.

Depending on what time you choose to dine at Delphine, the menu will vary with it's selection as Delphine offers breakfast every day of the week, starting from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM. They also offer a lunch menu, dinner menu and late night "supper" menu as well as a brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday. The menus are smaller, yet offer dishes with origins from France, Italy and Spain, resulting in a wide-range of options to choose from no matter what time of the day you are dining.

Our dinner was well prepared and served in a timely manner. All four of us ordered different entrées and each was cooked to perfection. Some highlights from our meal worth mentioning: onion soup grantinee, the grilled swordfish and the macaroni gratin. Seafood dominates the menu (be it raw or cooked) but steak, chicken and vegetarian dishes also make their respective appearances. If you are a fan of raw food, make your reservation for a Monday evening as Delphine has a special "raw-bar" menu for Monday nights.

If you'd like to try Delphine, but would like to go easy on your pocketbook, head over for their happy hour from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM daily where shrimp, oyster shooters, clams on the half shell and mussels are just one dollar! Pinot grigio and sparking rose wines are just $5 a glass during happy hour as well.

The only low light I might mention would be the chairs. Although pleasing to the eye, the wide-back wicker chairs force you to sit on the edge of your seat, leaving your back with no support. When you make your reservation you might want to ask to have a booth. Minus the chairs, Delphine offers it all. Great food, great service and a clean, and inviting atmosphere.

Nebraska native Debra Mategrano moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Nebraska to pursue writing for television along side her twin sister. She has worked as the lead concierge at a major Hollywood hotel for five years and has dedicated long hours to research Hollywood and surrounding area's dining scene. She has a passion for food and for the art of dining as a whole. She is open to all cuisines and tries dining at as many restaurants possible. Her day job motto: The dining experience is one that should be relished and savored from beginning to end.